Dr Gavin Hart is a lecturer in criminology at Liverpool Hope University. He researches the impact of immigration and diversity on politics and society more broadly, focusing especially on Northern Ireland. Gavin is the outgoing Communications Officer of the PSA Parliaments team.

Please tell us a little bit about how you entered academia and your academic career

It was a little odd really that I ended up doing a PhD. I was always a political junkie, but I had worked as a landscape gardener, then as a logistics manager: nowhere near a university. I studied politics as a mature student and I figured that it would probably lead me down a teaching path. Unfortunately, I was way too disorganised to have applied for the PGCE in time. At the end of the academic year, my dissertation supervisor suggested I apply for a funded PhD at Huddersfield University. I nearly fainted at the thought of it! I then made the doctorate look like really hard-work, but finally got over the line and managed to get a few publications out there. Since then I have been teaching social sciences at Huddersfield and larking about doing some research here and there.

Which five books/articles (written by someone else) have been most important to you in your academic career?

Much of my own work has been about consociational democracy, so I guess I should definitely mention Lijphart’s Politics of Accommodation and his academic sparring partner Donald Horowitz for his work Ethnic Groups in Conflict. These texts really got hooks into me and drew me into a debate. Also, I’m a party politics nerd, so I would have to mention Sartori’s Parties and Party Systems and Anthony Downs’ Economic Theory of Democracy. For teaching purposes, I have been using Exploring Parliament by Christina Leston-Bandeira and Louise Thompson (eds) quite a bit the last year or two. It is a nice tome of all things parliamentary with contributions from loads of great people working in the sub-discipline.

Which person has been most influential and important to you in your academic career?

Catherine McGlynn. My PhD supervisor who stood by me when I was being completely rubbish at academic-ing.

Which of your own pieces of research are you most proud of?

None.

What has been your greatest achievement in academia?

I think helping to organise the PSA Parliaments online conference throughout the last year or so. It has been great working with the PSA Parl crew. It was a real team effort and it produced such great panels. I felt like we turned a difficult situation into a great success and I was super proud to have been a cog in the machine.

What has been your greatest disappointment in academia?

Probably the political science jobs market. It can be a fairly miserable existence trying to find anything, even if you are happy to do short-term, part-time, super flexible work – it is still a challenge.

What is the first or most important thing you tell your students about parliaments?

That once the election is finished, party conflict is left at the door and all representatives begin to work collectively in the pursuit of the national interest…. And if you believe that I have some magic beans you might be interested in buying.

Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?

Huddersfield, Huddersfield, Huddersfield…

What was your first job?

I worked as a drystone-waller in my late teens and my early twenties.

What was the toughest job you ever had?

See above.

What are your hobbies?

I play guitar, banjo and ukulele to differing standards of incompetence. I like marching up mountains and general outdoors life too.

What are your favourite novels?

The picture of Dorian Grey really got hold of me. Right now, I’m reading Milkman by Anna Burns which is proving to be pretty awesome. I guess I just like authors that can transport you somewhere. Whether that is somewhere truly fantastic or far too real!

What is your favourite music?

Tough, tough question. I guess Nirvana was the first music I really got into so I would say In-Utero for one. Just lately, I’ve been loving the Dead South. They are like Blue Grass with a rock attitude. I like so much music though, it is hard to say why I like things. I either do or I don’t.

What are your favourite artists?

Lowry’s paintings of the industrial landscape in Northern England. I guess I like them because he depicts the places that I think of as home. I really get what he sees and I admire the way he captures it.

What is your favourite film?

Anything Tarantino because his films are the best and that is the end of the discussion!

What is your favourite building?

The last time I was able to leave the country (some time ago) I went to Rome and I am still in awe of the Colosseum and the various bit of ancient Rome that are still standing. I’m a sucker for ancient history.

What is your favourite tv show?

I’m quite a fan of the more ridiculous end of television. My all-time favourite has to be The Simpsons. I was raised on it and it basically defines my sense of humour to this day. These days I’m big into Rick and Morty. I like both of those shows because they blend plain daft with really clever comedy.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

I love North Wales for the opportunity to climb mountains in utterly ridiculous weather conditions. I just love the landscape in that part of the world.

What is your favourite sport?

Rugby League has always been a favourite. I used to play it as a kid, but I was pretty rubbish. I’m also a fan of martial arts. I have studied karate and kick-boxing quite a bit.

Boothroyd or Bercow?

Bercow.

Restoration or Renewal?

Renewal.

Cat or Dog?

Dog.

Fish and chips or Curry?

Aww man, how are you supposed to choose?

Trains, planes or automobiles?

Bikes.

Scones: Devonshire or Cornish Method?

Couldn’t care less really, but I have quite a few friends from Cornwall so I will say Cornish.

And, finally, a question asked by Seth, who has recently turned 9: If you could be a superhero, who would you be and why?

Spiderman. He looks to be having the most fun out of all the superheroes. I’m quite a fan of Deadpool too. He doesn’t take things too seriously!